# NTSB FTW77FA023: Piper PA-28, N7379W, El Paso, TX, December 17, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 17, 1976
- Place: El Paso, TX · EL PASO, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 29, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156500
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW77FA023
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW77FA023

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4072  76/12/17 NR.EL PASO,TX         PIPER PA-28         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 50, 764
        TIME - 1322                    N7379W              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CASA GRANDE,AZ             EL PASO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: FAILURE TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY AIRCRAFT ON RADAR
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO MTN SLOPE OBSCURED BY CLOUDS
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7379W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7379W-1977-07-18), registration cancelled 1977-07-18, S/N 28-1262 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-180) (registry code 7102808) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19761217042429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761217042429A), Dec 17, 1976: Piper PA28180, El Paso, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into mtn slope obscured by clouds

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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